kitchen remodeling ideasKitchen Remodeling Ideas

Remodeling a kitchen is a project that many homeowners dream of.  Before embarking on your renovation project, consider these issues as you prioritize your kitchen goals.

Determine the Scope of Your Kitchen Remodeling Project

If you're on a tight budget and just want a simple facelift for your kitchen, a few small improvements can give your kitchen a new look. Under-cabinet lighting is relatively inexpensive and will add instant charm to your kitchen.  In addition, you can save electricity by using it as mood lighting in the evening. No job is too big for Heartland Remodeling!

kitchen tile backsplash and flooringidea kitchen tile backsplash idea Updating your backsplash is another way to change the look of your kitchen in one move.  Tile comes in an enormous variety of styles, patterns and colors and can really perk up the room.  From natural pebble borders to Tuscan style to retro, there are tiles and borders  to suit every personal taste!  When choosing a backsplash, keep in mind how you tend to cook; if you fry much, it's wise not to pick a backsplash with lots of ridges and grooves or you'll have a tough time cleaning grease splatters.

Changing the cabinet handles and drawer pulls in your kitchen can also give you an updated look in a hurry.  Be sure to note the distance between screws on your existing handles and whether or not they are recessed into the door/drawer.  If you are replacing large handles with something smaller and your cabinets are older, there may be an outline of the old handles that can be hard to remove; experiment before you buy.

kitchen wine rack idea That being said, new kitchen cabinets make a world of difference!  If you want to upgrade your countertop, you certainly should update the cabinets while you're at it.  You can even make inexpensive cabinets look stylish by adding some moldings and trim.  If you won't be changing the countertop, some cabinets can have their doors refinished instead of replacing them entirely.  However, an advantage to new kitchen cabinetry is that there are new features available, such as soft-close drawers, recessed hidden hinges, pullout shelves and trays and space-efficient corner cabinets.

custom kitchen cabinet idea

If you've been gearing up to remodel the whole kitchen, you have a multitude of options available to you.  Heartland has remodeled many kitchens with various styles and can recommend products and methods that will look good in your home and make the best use of the area you have.

Reorganize Your Kitchen For More Space

Most homeowners would like more space in the kitchen, as families spend more time congregating and doing life in the kitchen than when many homes in St. Charles County were built.  Kitchen space, however, is not just physical. Space in the kitchen can mean what you feel in the kitchen.  The contemporary design in homes is for a more open floor plan.   Many homes were originally built with an island jutting out into the room with cabinets hanging from the ceiling, blocking the view of the adjoining room.  You would be amazed at how much bigger your kitchen will feel just by removing those overhead cabinets!  And you don't lose as much storage space as you think because you can add a cabinet to the wall where the old bank of cabinets had been attached.

kitchen island ideaMany kitchens can gain cabinet space during a remodeling project.   If you have soffits above your cabinets, they can be removed and the existing cabinets replaced with a taller version.  Surely, there are some rarely used kitchen utensils or funky wedding gifts that you can put up there! If there is a place up high that you do want to access frequently, include a narrow cabinet that's just the right size for storing a folding stepstool! If you'd like a microwave installed over your range, but there is not enough room, Heartland can often remove the existing range vent hood, move the electric and raise the cabinet so the microwave will fit.

Choosing Kitchen Cabinets

Take the size of your kitchen into account when choosing the color of your cabinets. Dark colored cabinets may give the kitchen a rich look, but can make a small kitchen appear even smaller.  A medium-colored tone might be a better option if your kitchen is not spacious.

remodeled kitchen with maple cabinets  remodeled kitchen with cherry cabinets  remodeled kitchen with white cabinets  remodeled kitchen with white cabinets

Wood grains available in cabinetry include maple, cherry and oak and each can come in varying colors of stain.  Oak has a more defined wood grain while maple is smoother.  You might also want to consider durability; oak is very strong and maple can be scratched.

Choosing a Kitchen Counter Surface

kitchen remodeling with granite counter kitchen remodeling with FormicaMany homeowners dream of replacing their kitchen counter tops with granite or another solid surface because the colors and textures are so beautiful.  If you live in a high-end home, a solid countertop will be expected by future buyers of your house.  Granite is a popular option as it is tough, rich looking and comes in a variety of styles.  Granite is porous, however, so you must plan to have it sealed on a regular basis so that liquids won’t stain it. There are plastic solid surfaces to choose from, but those can scratch easily.  Quartz is a more expensive option, but a quartz countertop kitchen remodeling with granite counteris food-service safe, hard as granite, you can set hot pots and pans on it without worry of marking, or cracking, and all edge patterns are standard.  No upgrade charges as with granite. 

If none of these solid-surface options are within your budget, you may be pleased to see the new options in Formica countertops. There are many contemporary designs and a Formica countertop can be stylized with a wood beveled-edge finish that matches your cabinets as well as other fancy types of edges.

It Doesn't Have To Match!

This kitchen island follows the new trend of not matching everything - the island utilized black cabinets while the exterior cabinets are white. Many homeowners are now blending finishes and styles for a more interesting look in the kitchen. kitchen appliance ideas stainless steel

Appliances and Colors

Today's trend is toward stainless steel appliances.  Stainless sure can be beautiful in the kitchen.  If this is your choice, be sure to get the fingerprint-less coating!  Otherwise, you'll have a record of everything and everyone who comes in contact with your refrigerator, stove or oven and you'll have a tough time getting it off!  Black appliances will show dust and fingerprints too but are easier to clean than stainless.  There is certainly nothing wrong with white appliances, especially if you have a small kitchen and want to create a feeling of space.  Some homeowners enjoy having a mixture of colors, such as black and white appliances with stainless steel sink, because it is easier to add pieces to your kitchen that match. For instance, you can replace your coffeemaker with a new black and stainless model and it still matches. kitchen tile ideas with double ovenYou can also change the dominate color by switching out your cabinet handles, fruit bowl, paper towel holder, candle stands, soap dispenser, etc.

If you are changing the configuration of your cabinets, you can plan space for appliances of new sizes and purposes.  A double-oven is very handy on Thanksgiving and other occasions for entertaining.  Perhaps a warming drawer would be more useful in your kitchen; you can make things in advance and keep them ready for your guests whenever the time is right.

If you grill your food frequently and don't enjoy braving the cold and humidity of Missouri, look for a range that has a built-in or interchangeable grill or even a griddle. If you're one who believes that there's nothing like cooking with gas, you can get dual-fuel ranges if you want your cooktop and oven together.

kithcen lighting options

Kitchen Lighting Options

Can lights are a great way to add light to your kitchen because recessed lighting doesn't taking up space.   If your kitchen is more spacious, stylish pendant lights can create visual interest over a bar or island.  As previously mentioned, under-cabinet lights are a very easy feature to add which will make an immediate difference in the feel of your kitchen, not to mention giving you an energy-saving option for the evenings.

kithcen lighting optionsHeartland Remodeling Does Everything Including the Kitchen Sink!

kitchen sink ideasIf you are dreaming about a better kitchen, don't forget about your sink!  Make your dishwashing easier with a deeper sink; you can find models that are only deeper just on one side if you are tight on space underneath. You can also find sinks with longer side so you can fit a skillet and handle sitting flat to soak.   There are some very pretty sinks to choose from, such as a gorgeous crushed black granite aggregate that doesn't show dirt the way other materials do.

Unique Kitchen Ideas

Set your kitchen apart from the rest by adding some unique features. If you ever find yourself trying to sell your home in a flooded housing market, any interesting touches you have added to your home could make it more desirable than one which is otherwise equal.

Let Heartland Remodeling install an instant hot water dispenser in your sink and you'll have hot water on the spot for tea, oatmeal, convenience foods and more. It's one of those features that you'll really appreciate once you have one!

If you have an area of wall that's separate from the rest, consider covering it entirely with decorative tile. You can make your ovens look bricked in or just use the area to bring more color into your kitchen.

Are you a wine connoisseur? Install a coordinating wine rack right in your kitchen so all your favorites will be within your reach!

If you want to have your cook top in your kitchen island, downdraft systems will retract when not in use.


Kitchen cabinet and tile backsplash ideaWhy Hire a Professional to Remodel Your Kitchen?

Your kitchen is likely the most popular room in yourhome.  It should be comfortable, functional and beautiful. If you trust your kitchen to Heartland Remodeling, we'll pay close attention to every detail and make sure that it's done right, with as little interruption to your life as possible.  

We have many years of experience in making kitchen dreams come true and we can handle every aspect of the job, from drywall and plumbing work though cabinet and counter installations to lighting, tiling and painting. Check out our entire kitchen photo gallery for a samples of our work.

View our testimonials page to read comments from some of our very satisfied customers.

No home remodeling project is too large for Heartland Remodeling. We'd be happy to help you make a plan for your budget.

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